Ian Holloway has spoken out for the first time since his sacking as QPR manager, branding it as 'bitterly disappointing' but he believes the club is in a better place than when he arrived.

The club took the decision to sack Holloway, who still had a year left on his deal, in favour of hiring former Derby County boss Steve McClaren, who last managed a club in 2017.

Holloway guided QPR to a 16th placed finish in the Championship last year in the second season of his second spell in charge of the Loftus Road club, while fielding a number of youngsters as QPR looked to the future.

Ilias Chair, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Paul Smyth were all given games under Holloway, but Tony Fernandes decided that a different direction was needed and gave McClaren the job to coach the side into the future.